Best World Series you ever watched?

[BINGLEBOP]

1991.

[wahoosamC]

wow, i actually didn't know about that one. I wonder why it gets no play...we constantly hear and see Carters, Bobby Thompsons, and many other memorable HR's. I wonder why game 7 clincher is talked about so infrequently??

It's talked about quite a lot actually. Hell, it got Maz into the hall.

[Swampdog]

A few years back I made a post on another site, ranking the best World Series of the past 50-odd years, which was the post WWII era. Updating that to 60-odd years, since the WWII era, this is how I would rank the best ever.

First, I have to establish the criteria for a good, or a great WS. Being a fan of one of the teams is irrelevant (although it makes that WS special). To qualify as a great WS I think you must have:

1) A Game 7. Absolutely required. A good WS that ends in Game 6 (or earlier) is just missing a major ingredient. Thats an opinion I share with many others. Game 7 of the WS is, to me, potentially the best event in a calendar year in sports. You cant match the drama of a good game 7.

2) Close games and few blowouts. One run games are exciting, 12-3 games are not. For this purpose, all WS are ranked to include one run games, and a blowout is defined as a 5 or more run difference.

3) Late inning heroics. The more the better. How many games were decided in the 9'th inning, or extra innings? How many times, late in the game (the 7'th inning and beyond) did a team come back to tie, or did the lead change hands? This is what makes a WS memorable.

4) Game 7 itself. How close was the game? If Game 7 was a laugher (1985, for example, when the Royals beat St Louis 11-0), it detracts from the overall event.

There are other factors as well, but these are the main elements of a great WS. I would factor in "star power"...the number of HOF-type players in the WS, and also a subjective judgement as to what effect, if any, the WS had on baseball in general.

So, I count a total of 26 WS that have gone 7 games since WWII. First, the 5 worst 7 game series, in no particular order:

1956 Yankees-Dodgers. It had Larsen's perfect game and little else. Awful Game 7 (9-0 NY). One 1 run game, 2 blowouts. Only one game decided in the 9'th or in extras.

1965 Dodgers-Twins. A good Game 7 cant save this WS. No one run games, 3 blowouts. No games decided in the 9'th or later.

1967 Cardinals-Red Sox. Poor Game 7 (7-2 Cards, 7-1 in the 6'th). Despite memorable performances by Gibson, Yastrzemski, Brock, and Lonborg, the WS was dull. One 1 run game, 3 blowouts. Just one game decided in the 7'th inning, and none later.

1968 Tigers-Cardinals. Pretty good Game 7, but little else. Well, Gibson did fan 17 Tigers in Game 1, and Lolich won 3 for Detroit, but...no one run games and 3 blowouts. 2 games decided in the 7'th, none later than that.

1987 Twins-Cardinals. A "homer" series, as the home team won all 7 games. However, zero one run games, and 3 blowouts. Only one game decided in the 7'th inning (Game 3), and none later than that. A decent Game 7 cant save this WS.

I picked the ten best WS since WWII and was able to immediately cull out the best 5. So working my way up, with no commentary, are the "Honorable Mention" classics, in no particular order:

1958 Yankees-Braves
1962 Yankees-Giants
1971 Pirates-Orioles
1979 Pirates-Orioles
1997 Marlins-Indians

A review of the top 5 WS leaves little doubt as to how they should rank, except for the top 2. These are, to me, the greatest World Series since WWII, or just over 60 years. So, here's my countdown, starting with the 5'th best:

#5 2002 Angels-Giants. Clearly better than anything ranked lower, and not as great as the top four. Four 1 run games, 2 blowouts. Three games decided in the 7'th inning or later (none in the 9'th or extras though). A relatively weak Game 7 (4-1 in the third inning, and thats the final score).

#4 2001 Diamondbacks-Yankees. Similar to 2002, but better. Like 2002, Four 1 run games and 2 blowouts. But this series had 3 games decided late; 2 in extra innings and another (Game 7) in the bottom of the ninth. Speaking of Game 7...great game. The best WS of this century, and fourth best in my rankings.

#3 1972 A's-Reds. Overall, this one ranks closer to 2001 and 2002 than it does to the top 2. Nonetheless, an incredible SIX of the seven games were decided by one run. It's the only WS in history that can boast 6 one run games. The other game was an 8-1 blowout. Two games decided in the 9'th, and another one in the 7'th. Oakland won Game 7 by a 3-2 score. Lots of star power here; Bench, Rose, Morgan, Griffey, Foster, Gullet for Cin, and Hunter, Jackson, Rudi, Bando, Fingers, Blue for Oak (note-Reggie Jackson was injured and missed this WS). Possibly the most underrated WS of the past 60 years.

That leaves the top 2. The 1975 Reds-Red Sox, and the 1991 Twins-Braves. I find
these two WS very difficult to separate. They both featured 5 games decided by one run. Each had only one blowout. Each had FOUR games decided in the 9'th inning, or extra innings. Each had another game decided in the 7'th or 8'th inning. These are numbers that no other WS can match. Both years had a great Game 7. Cincinnati beat Boston 4-3 on Morgan's hit in the ninth, and the Twins beat the Braves 1-0 in 10 innings on Larkin's single. Two very incredible series.

To break the tie, I look at the lesser factors. Biggest stars; 1975 had Bench, Rose, Morgan, Griffey, Yaz, Fisk, Evans, Tiant and Lynn. 1991 had Glavine, Justice, Smoltz, Pendleton, Puckett, Morris...and who, Chili Davis? Steve Avery. Ron Gant? Hmm.... advantage 1975.

Each series featured a dramatic, walk-off homer to end Game 6. Of course, the Carlton Fisk homer has been immortalized, while the Puckett blast is largely, and unfairly, forgotten. Nonetheless, advantage 1975.

Finally, was there any significant effect on baseball that can be attributed to either WS? Baseball attendance had stagnated in the early and mid 70's. Baseball set a record attendance in 1976, broke that record again in 1977, and also in 1978, and in 1979. Many baseball scholars, including Bill James, believe that the 1975 WS "reminded people how great baseball can be", and was a factor in the increased interest in the sport. Attendance slightly decreased in 1992 (after the 1991 WS), then took a huge jump in 1993. The jump was quite likely due to expansion, and increased offense (runs per game jumped from 8.2 rpg in 1992 to 9.2 in 1993, as the steroids era was underway), moreso than the '91 WS, but its hard to tell. I suspect that the '75 WS had more of an impact, but I'll call it a wash.

The final results are in, and my call is:

#2 1991 Twins-Braves
#1 1975 Reds-Red Sox

Thats how I see it anyway.

For anyway who doesnt know, ESPN ranked all the WS recently, and their top 12 are:
12-1971, 11-1972, 10-2002, 9-1947, 8-1986, 7-1958, 6-1924, 5-1912, 4-1952, 3-2001, 2-1975, and 1-1991. I made all my selections before I saw this list, for what thats worth. Nothing I see on their site changes my mind. 1947 was good, not great. 1986 (the "Buckner" series) was Ok, and if not for Game 6, nothing special.They vastly overrate 1952, as I see it. And of course, I didnt rank 1912 or 1924, but both were wonderful Fall Classics as well.

The link to their rankings:

http://espn.go.com/swf/mlb/anniversa...eries_100.html

[5DiMaggio]

I think 2001 or 2003 when the underdog marlins and their victory cigars won

[200tang]

some nice research there Swampdog. I have not seen a lot of older "pre 1990" WS' but I think after reading about '75 I'll have to check it out. And if choosing between 2001 and '91 I would go with 2001 only because I was actually old enough to watch it live rather than see it later and knowing what was going to happen.

[TheNamelessPoet]

agreed Swampy nice job.

I wish I had seen 91 live.... or maybe I did and thats 1 reason im a braves fan in CT???

*not the real reason of course *

[filihok]

A few years back I made a post on another site, ranking the best World Series of the past 50-odd years, which was the post WWII era. Updating that to 60-odd years, since the WWII era, this is how I would rank the best ever.

...

The link to their rankings:

http://espn.go.com/swf/mlb/anniversa...eries_100.html

THIS is an awesome post.

But, since I wasn't a baseball fan in 1975, 1991 is the best I've seen.

[RedsoxRockies]

Thanks Swampy, that is pretty interesting

[ragecage]

THIS is an awesome post.

But, since I wasn't a baseball fan in 1975, 1991 is the best I've seen.

Yeah I wasnt alive to see that 75 series, so im still going to go with 1991 as well.

[dps]

wow, i actually didn't know about that one. I wonder why it gets no play...we constantly hear and see Carters, Bobby Thompsons, and many other memorable HR's. I wonder why game 7 clincher is talked about so infrequently??

It's a generational thing. If this forum was made up of mostly of guys who were between about 10 and 22 in 1960, it would be talked about a lot in these kind of threads. As it is, I think I'm probably about the oldest person who posts here on anything near a regular basis, and even I wasn't born then.

Anyhow, my answer would be 91, I think. That year's game 7 was definately the best game I've ever seen.

[slickydo]

"touch em all joe"

[skudplayr]

08 only because I'd never witnessed a hometown championship and it was miraculous.

Being non-biased, it's got to be 01. Although, I am always going to be partial to 1995 since it was the first World Series I followed intently. Indians were so nasty that year offensively but just couldn't get past that mighty Atlanta rotation.

2002 was pretty awesome too. Giants just a few outs from a championship (their first in San Francisco) and they blow it and then lose the series. Such a heartbreaking series for them especially when Bonds was so amazing.

[skudplayr]

"touch em all joe"

Ugh

[Jeffy25]

Where is Rongar? He needs to post

[actionjackson]

Ugh

Why ugh? The only reason I can think of is that you might have heard the call too often. It was the signature call of the most beloved broadcaster in this country who for some inexplicable reason was denied entry to the Hall of Fame before his untimely death from brain cancer during the 2005 playoffs despite a streak of 4,306 consecutive regular season (and 41 consecutive playoff) games. I'm not sure if that's a record, but it's pretty effin good, and he still hasn't received the Ford C. Frick Award. If it's a Canada thing fine, but the guy's from Pensacola, Florida and the team he announced for made baseball history 17 years ago. Then again, I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. After all it is Cooperstown.